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DARPA’s new Persistent Close Air Support program is providing warfighters with advanced digital tools for situational awareness and targeting in place of legacy communications systems and traditional paper maps. The system safely coordinates troop positions, while simultaneously providing close air support for ground forces....

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration approved the first commercial drone, AeroVironment'S RQ-20A Puma AE, a small hand-launched UAS with endurance of 3.5 hours and the capability to extend its range with solar or fuel cell options. It also includes electro-optical and infrared cameras....

In other automotive news this week, Greg Brown and Dave Fawcett have announced plans for a jet-powered flying car, the GF7, and in a recent interview with Gizmag, the team explained that the vehicle will be able to reach heights of up to 38,000 feet, with a top speed of 550 mph....

Announced at a press conference at meeting of the American Astronomical society, was the discovery of a planet that is 17-times heavier than earth called Kepler-10c. The planet exists in the Draco constellation, about 560 light-years from earth. The latest smart phone security: If someone does something suspicious with a phone...

One of the biggest announcements from the recent Unmanned Systems expo in Orlando, Florida was the news that Sikorsky Aircraft is developing an autonomous version of the Black Hawk helicopter. The optionally piloted UH-60A Black Hawk leverages the company’s Matrix technology — a major research program for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft....

New algorithms and electronic components could enable printable robots that self-assemble when heated. The actuator — which would enable a robot to move — is a foldable coil, which would need to be augmented with a pair of iron cylinders that could be magnetized by an electrical current....

Magnetic levitation, or Maglev, trains use magnets to levitate above their tracks, which eliminates any friction, allowing for faster, quieter travel. Current maglev trains can reach speeds of up to 250 mph, but Researchers in China have successfully completed testing of the first manned megathermal superconducting maglev loop, which would go much faster....

Who says ECN's editors can't have a bit of fun? Enjoy these bumbles, stumbles, and hilarious outtakes from the latest edition of ECN's premier video series, Engineering Update. Thanks to Technical Editor Jason Lomberg and Managing Editor Kasey Panetta for being such great sports!

DARPA has been developing a program called High Assurance Cyber Military Systems, which uses software to thwart all manner of cyber-attacks on drones. The project originated at the University of California, San Diego and the University of Washington, and according to the program manager for DARPA, the software is allegedly mathematically invulnerable to large classes of attack....

Special Ops Iron Man Suit: The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit project is being coordinated through the Special Operations Command headquarters, but the team is turning to professional engineers, students, and even, what they described as local "garage tinkerers"....

The Rogers Corporation celebrates the opening of the Rogers Innovation Center housed in the Northeastern's George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security in Burlington, MA. Rogers' Innovation Center is a unique academic-industry partnership focused on building closer linkages....

In this week's episode of the Engineering Update: Fastest production motorcycle in the world: The Lightening LS-218 is set to be the fastest motorcycle on the planet. With a top speed of 218 mph 200 horsepower and 168 foot pounds of torque, this bike is set to blow its competitors out of the water after its release this summer....

Who says ECN's editors can't have a bit of fun? Enjoy these bumbles, stumbles, and hilarious outtakes from the latest edition of ECN's premier video series, Engineering Update. Thanks to Technical Editor Jason Lomberg and Managing Editor Kasey Panetta for being such great sports!

Researchers from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), have created a technology road map for a space-based solar power system that will include a 1-gigawatt commercial system, man-made island studded with 5 billion tiny rectifying antennas, and a microwave beam....

Former Indie League racer, Sam Schmidt, got back behind the wheel to race a Corvette down an Air Force test track. Except, Schmidt is a quadriplegic which was the result of a spinal cord injury suffered during a race testing accident in 2000. Using a ball cap with reflective spheres, Schmidt can take to the track again....